“It has been underlined that the referendum decision taken by the KRG [Kurdistan Regional Government] cannot be implemented – de jure and de facto – and that this is a grave mistake and can lead to unwanted consequences,” the National Security Council said in a written statement after its bi-monthly meeting, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

The meeting was chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and attended by top military and civilian officials.

Turkey has warned the Kurdistan government that holding the historic vote on independence on September 25 would be a “grave mistake.”

Turkey, like other regional and international countries, supports a united Iraq.

Also on Monday, Iran warned that the referendum would isolate and weaken Kurdistan.

Iran and Turkey both have their own restive Kurdish populations. KRG officials have repeatedly made it clear that their independence aspirations are for Iraqi Kurdistan only.